MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A Minneapolis man, Letterance Demont Grady, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges related to his involvement in a shooting that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy in September 2021. Court records show that the plea deal includes just over 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Feb. 5.
Grady was initially charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of felony aiding an offender to avoid arrest by harboring or concealing. Those charges were dismissed in April 2023 due to the unavailability of the lead attorney from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. However, the charges were refiled a day later, adding additional counts of second-degree murder, aiding an offender, and aiding and abetting second-degree assault to the case.
The charges stem from an incident in which Letterance Grady’s son, Jeremiah, shot and killed 12-year-old London Bean in north Minneapolis. Jeremiah was sentenced to just over 30 years in prison for the murder, to which he pleaded guilty in May.
While Letterance Grady was not the one who pulled the trigger, prosecutors assert that he is partially responsible for Bean’s death. The shooting followed a physical altercation between Bean and Jeremiah Grady’s younger brother, after which Jeremiah approached the property wearing a mask and all black, and fired shots that struck Bean twice.
Surveillance video showed Letterance Grady driving his son to and from the scene, despite initially denying his presence at the time of the shooting. During police interviews, Jeremiah Grady stated that his father had encouraged him to retaliate and instructed him to shoot from the car.
The guilty plea on Friday marks the latest development in a case that has garnered significant attention in the Minneapolis area. The sentencing of Letterance Demont Grady is set for Feb. 5, 2023. The tragic incident continues to raise important questions about accountability and the prevention of similar violence in the future.